Abstract: An automated assembly conveyor method and apparatus for dry-cleaners, wherein the system is disposed to recognize, associate, and consolidate garments in customer transactions by reading garment identification tags located within each item. The system further includes an optional point-of-sale system and mark-in station to facilitate the intake of items from a customer to ensure each item is input into a database.

Abstract: A provisioning services platform automatically and remotely regulates service subscription and supplies replenishment. The platform comprises a provisioning server running a service consumer interface, an entity management module comprising information on machines usable with the platform such as electroreprographic marking machines, a policy and preferences module, and an order processing module, among others. The provisioned services include automated meter reads, automated supplies ordering, productivity reporting, assisted user self-help, remote diagnostics, and prognostics, among others.

Abstract: Method for monitoring products in a refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator (1) comprises at least a compartment (2) for containing products (3), a door (4) adapted to close said compartment (2) and radio frequency transmission means (5) adapted to communicate with a plurality of transponders (6) associated with said products (3) to detect the presence of said transponders (6) into the compartment (2), each transponder (6) being able to send a specific identification code, the method comprises: detecting said transponders in static condition of closed door (C1), detecting said transponders during a time period (T1) which represents a dynamic phase of door opening (C2), detecting said transponders during a second time period (T2) which represents a dynamic phase of closing door (F2), comparing said transponders (6) detected in static condition (C1) and in dynamic condition (F1, F2), and their time events of detection for determining the transponders introduced and extracted, respectively, from the refrigerator

Abstract: An apparatus and method for interrogating and automatically identifying a radio-frequency tagged surgical instrument tray and its contents of RFID-tagged surgical instruments are disclosed. The surgical instrument tray and its contents come into contact with an RF signal transmitted by the RFID reader, and as a result, the RFID tags affixed on the instrument tray and the surgical instruments respond by transmitting back to the RFID reader data pertaining to the history of the surgical instruments. A data terminal, which is connected to the RFID reader, may contain data pertaining to the radio frequency tagged surgical instruments during packaging, and during the return of the surgical instrument trays to the packager, identifies the surgical instruments.

Abstract: A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to a freight order, a maintenance plan, a maintenance task list, a request for supplier freight quote, and/or a supplier freight quote business object.

Abstract: A system includes a first controller configured to monitor processes associated with a process facility and to generate control data for optimizing the process facility. The system also includes a second controller configured to use stochastic calculus of variations calculations to modify at least a portion of the control data. The second controller is configured to provide discrete supply chain control and optimization for the process facility and to track at least one of demand requirements and shipping requirements for product manufactured by a discrete supply chain manufacturing process. The system further includes third controllers configured to operate in accordance with the control data to control the processes and to optimize the process facility.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques for determining one or more inventory items from an inventory for fulfilling an items order. In one embodiment, one or more sets of inventory items are selected from available inventory to fulfill orders in such a way that a minimum number of inventory item sets are allocated for fulfilling the order. This in turn reduces the number of picks that must be made when gathering inventory items for an order. The inventory items sets may include standard pack quantities and/or indivisible items.

Abstract: A job information managing system which can improve convenience in managing and using management codes and improve user-friendliness and convenience in printing management using the management codes. A client computer generates a job for a printer and generates job information on the job. A server computer acquires the job information from the client computer and manages the job information. The client computer creates a label in association with a plurality of management codes for managing job information. The created label is sent to the server computer and stored in association with the plurality of management codes.

Abstract: A storage medium for resolving demand and supply imbalances is provided. The storage medium includes machine-readable computer program code and instructions for causing a computer to implement a method. The method includes identifying an excess component inventory liability or constraint in supply capability for an end product by matching current buying patterns for the end product against inventory liability and supply capability based on a previous demand forecast. Where excess component inventory liability exists, the method includes: refocusing the excess component inventory liability by determining alternative end products that use components identified in the excess component inventory liability; and executing sales activities for enticing sales of the alternative end products.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a storage medium having instructions for a method for facilitating supply chain collaboration in a network environment, said supply chain including an enterprise and at least one supplier. The method includes generating and transmitting an unconstrained forecast to a supplier; receiving a supplier capability statement in response and generating a constrained forecast utilizing the supplier capability statement. The constrained forecast is transmitted to the supplier which responds with a formal commitment to product a needed supply indicated in the constrained forecast.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method for facilitating supply chain collaboration in a network environment, said supply chain including an enterprise and at least one supplier. The method includes generating and transmitting an unconstrained forecast to a supplier; receiving a supplier capability statement in response; and generating a constrained forecast utilizing the supplier capability statement. The constrained forecast is transmitted to the supplier which responds with a formal commitment to product a needed supply indicated in the constrained forecast. The method also includes monitoring inventory levels at a replenishment service center by a supplier based upon a formal commitment, refilling inventory items at the replenishment service center, and facilitating delivery of the inventory items to the enterprise site by transmitting a pull signal to the replenishment service center whereby inventory items are delivered in response to the pull signal.

Abstract: A tracking manager, in communication with a status tracking structure and one or more client, provides event information regarding a plurality of objects, received from the status tracking structure, and alert information to the clients. Immediate rules and periodic rules are assessed in light of event information, which rules are stored in a rule storage component such that any of the rules may be modified independently of a rule execution component within the tracking manager. When the conditions defining any of the business rules are met, alert events are generated, stored and provided to the clients. Additionally, a map control operating in the clients allows selected portions of the event information to be provided to the clients. A data structure corresponding to a map schema is provided such that specialized map images may be readily provided and associated with each other.

Abstract: In a hot chamber die casting apparatus of pressurizing molten magnesium alloy at an atmospheric pressure or higher without being exposed to the atmosphere and forming a magnesium alloy casting product in the shape of a mold, the hot chamber die casting apparatus basically configured with a melting furnace having a heater, a pressure unit configured to pressurize the molten magnesium alloy, and a mold configured to shape a product, and includes an electromagnetic stirrer disposed around a nozzle between a pressure chamber and the mold, and configured to stir semisolid magnesium alloy, the pressure chamber being connected to the melting furnace and supplying magnesium alloy in liquid state, wherein an inner diameter of the nozzle is partially or wholly smaller than that of the pressure chamber so as to crush solid phases existing in the semisolid magnesium alloy in the pressure chamber or the nozzle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that maintains a database of the demands over time for all the different refurbished machines is disclosed. The invention also maintains the supply over time of all the different machines that will be returned from expired leases. The invention maintains the relationship for alternate parts which parts can be used in place of another. The invention also maintains an inventory of parts and machines. As machines are returned from expired leases, they come into inventory. From this inventory, some of the machines will, from time to time be scheduled to be refurbished or demanufactured. The balance will remain in inventory. When a machine is demanufactured, all of the parts that are produced will be put in inventory.

Abstract: The subject application is directed to a system and method for monitoring consumable usage and managing consumable inventory. An order for a document processing device consumable is first received from a user account, and an inventory value corresponding to each received order is then stored. Consumable full, empty, and low status data is then received from each document processing device associated with the user account. The inventory value is then decremented during each transition reflected in the status data to a full level. An order for additional consumables is then indicated for the user account when the inventory level is decremented to a preselected trigger amount. Imminent replacement data is then generated corresponding to each document processing device having a low level consumable status.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for data processing. An exemplary method includes coupling a plurality of data warehouses to a data processing system. Each of the data warehouses may include key figures field catalogues and characteristics field catalogues. The method may further include selecting a sub-set of the plurality of data warehouses, selecting at least one of the key figures field catalogues and characteristics field catalogues of a selected one of the data warehouses, and storing data indicative of the selected sub-set and the selected at least one key figures field catalogue and characteristics field catalogue for definition of a data domain.

Abstract: In a physical distribution model of the circulation type, synchronization is established between a reuse plan and a delivery/fabrication plan to thereby reasonably reduce the excess and deficiency of inventory articles at a confluence point of regenerated reusable articles and newly delivered component parts. With regard to newly delivered lower-level items, predict a variation or fluctuation of stock quantity based on at least a delivery schedule of them and a present stock amount along with usage plans in manufacturing processes. As for lower-level items of regenerated articles, predict a delivery due date and an expected number of such regenerated lower-level items based on at least a stock quantity of recovered items collected for reuse purposes and a lead time for taking regenerated lower-level items out of the collected items, thereby controlling, based on the both prediction results, the stock quantity of the lower-level items in manufacturing processes.

Abstract: A method for managing equipment may include operating one or more equipment units, tracking operating data for the one or more equipment units, tracking equipment service data for the one or more equipment units, communicating the operating data and the equipment service data to a database, maintaining the operating data and the equipment service data at the database, operating one or more point of sale interfaces for processing customer orders, communicating customer order data from the point of sale interfaces to the database, maintaining customer order data at the database, and calculating estimated service dates for one or more of the equipments units. The calculation of estimated service dates may be based on the operating data, the equipment service data, and the customer order data.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a computer-based contract-management approach processes transactions involving at least one supplier (i.e., seller or sellers) fulfilling one or more sub-components of the transaction. Each of the suppliers (e.g., as well as other transaction parties) reference the transaction when communicating transaction information such as invoices, regardless of which sub-component of the transaction the seller is involved with. The invoices are associated with the transaction using the transaction referenced in each invoice and each supplier is accordingly paid for its performance of the sub-component of the transaction with which it is involved. From a buyer's perspective, the transaction is processed in accordance with the sub-components associated with the at least one supplier.

Abstract: A retail terminal and method of operation thereof. The retail terminal has a weight scale, a bar code scanner, RFID tag antenna, a scan error indicator, means for communicating with a processor and a memory containing a weight learning database (WLDB). The method comprises the steps of: allowing placement of an item, having an RFID tag, to be weighed on the weight scale; allowing scanning of the item via the bar code scanner; allowing RFID tag to be read by antenna located in the scanner; obtaining a weight measurement of the item on the scale upon successful scanning of the item; and comparing the measured weight of the scanned item with a predetermined weight for that item stored in the WLDB.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium and a data structure for communicating information regarding the current and future components of a technical architecture standard to vendors are provided. The computer-readable medium includes a data structure having a data field containing data identifying a particular component of an information technology architecture for an organization, a data field containing data identifying a current standard for the component, and a data field containing data identifying a future standard for the component.

Abstract: A system for demand breakout for a supply chain includes a memory operable to store a plurality of orders for at least one product. Each product may be produced using at least one precursor. The memory is also operable to store a production schedule identifying one or more resources in the supply chain, a quantity of each product and precursor scheduled to be produced by the resources, and a time period associated with production of each product and precursor. The system also includes one or more processors collectively operable to identify one or more particular units of the product that correspond to each product order. The one or more processors are also collectively operable to identify one or more particular units of one or more precursors that correspond to each product order.

Abstract: A method for managing and fulfilling inventory requests is provided. Material orders originating from a customer are received at a material hub. Each order originates from a customer and contains a request for parts. The material orders are aggregated into a consolidated order reflecting an aggregate quantity of each part ordered. A material request list is generated identifying a total number of each part to be delivered to the location. The parts are retrieving from inventory and delivered to the location. Parts can be contained in a package which includes a scannable identifier for encoding a type of the part and a quantity of the part contained in the package. Prior to delivery, the identifier can be scanned and the quantity of each part being delivered is determined. The quantity of parts being delivered is compared to the number of parts identified by the materials request list.

Abstract: An interface tool is provided. The interface includes an aggregator that collects input data from a user and transforms the input data to a form suitable by a business processing system. A format component receives output data from the business processing system and transforms the output data to a form suitable by a user.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for securely uploading and downloading data from a client to a remote data storage location under control of a remote application program. The data is stored in encrypted form so that the data server has no access to the data. The data is associated with a bill of material (BOM) and may be accessed by users without providing access to the data space of the client. Also disclosed is a method and computer program so automatically assign access privileges to one or more users of data in a bill of material stored in a shared database such that the step of refining a role for the user for a data item automatically assigns access privileges for the user for the data and other related data items. Also described is linking BOMs to provide peer-to-peer access and views to different users. Also described is a method and software program that provides of propagation of data through the supply chain via one or more bills of materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable device containing software adapted to execute on and instruct a host computing device. When executing the software, the host computing device may recognize financial account fields in a web page during a browsing session and automatically fill these fields with financial account information stored on the portable device to facilitate a web-based transaction. The portable device may contain information relating to multiple financial accounts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pre-processing electronic data requests within the EDI subsystem layer and within the order fulfillment application system. An order interceptor, third-party Available To Promise (ATP) interface, pseudo-sales order workbench, and the reject acknowledgment system processes are provided within the order fulfillment application system to accomplish the pre-processing. The order interceptor performs an asynchronous availability check before a sales order is posted. The result of the ATP check is stored in an ESO, and is applied during the posting process with unique user exits. The result of the ATP check is also used to determine key information about the sales order, such as the sales organization, and division and distribution channels. The pre-processor uses business rules to determine if the ESO should be split into multiple documents for requests satisfied across multiple sales areas.

Abstract: A global supply chain management system in an environment of multiple suppliers forming supply chains for one or more buyers connected over the Internet. The system includes a global processor with logic that maps “local” supply information for each buyer and each supplier, represented in one or more property tables having master information correlated to local information for each buyer and each supplier. The system manages processes from an input of lots to an output through supplier stages where clients each use fragmented different local information. A correlation means uses base lot indicators, one for each of the lots in common for all of said stages and executes supply chain management functions for tracking lots through the supplier stages and for dynamic creation of sets of purchase orders among groups of suppliers for processing the same lot through the supply chain.

Abstract: A method for acquiring rights to lease a drilling rig using client devices with secure information and qualifications bulletin boards is disclosed. The method authenticates a leassee of a drilling rig using a leassee client device to communicate with leassors using a secure server system. The leassee creates a bid proposal using a secure database server system and invites leassors to reply to the bid proposal and form tender offers. Then, the leassee replies to tender offers and awards a lease contract based on the best leasing conditions.

Abstract: A system for acquiring rights to lease a floating production system including leassee client devices, leassor client devices, and a database server system is disclosed. The leassee client devices and leassor client devices communicate with the database server system. The database server system maintains a catalog of floating production systems available to potential leassees via their respective client devices and includes information on the floating production systems available for lease. The database server maintains information on leassors with floating production systems for lease, and information on equipment used on floating production systems for lease. The system allow leassees and leassors to request bids, formulate potential leassor distribution lists, and determine the best leasing conditions offered by the potential leassees. The system facilitates making an award to the potential leassor offering the best leasing conditions for the lease of a floating production system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for computer modeling the production process is disclosed. An integrated product and process engineering system may be a computer modeling system that models both a generic production process and a specific individual production process. The integrated product and process engineering system may store one or more time dependent process parameters related to the production process and one or more engineering change numbers related to different product designs. The effective time periods of the time dependent process parameters may be compared with the effective time periods of the engineering change numbers. Various flags may be associated with each comparison to indicate the validity of the time dependent process parameter.

Abstract: A system for acquiring rights to lease an offshore support vessel using leassee client devices, leassor client devices, and a database server system is disclosed. The leassee client devices and leassor client devices communicate with the database server system. The database server system maintains a catalog of offshore support vessels available to potential leassees, via their respective client devices, with information on the vessels available for lease. The database server maintains information on leassors with offshore support vessels for lease and information on equipment used on the vessels for lease. The system allows leassees and leassors to request bids, formulate potential leassor distribution lists, and determine the best leasing conditions offered by the leassors. The system facilitates making an award to the potential leassor, who or which offers the best leasing conditions for the lease of an offshore support vessel most closely matching the formulated bid request.

Abstract: A system for acquiring rights to lease a drilling rig for periods of time and/or particular activities and including leassee client devices, leassor client devices, and a database server system is disclosed. The leassee client devices and leassor client devices communicate with the database server system. The database server system maintains a catalog of drilling rigs available to potential leassees via their respective client devices, comprising information on the drilling rigs available for lease. The database server maintains information on leassors with drilling rigs for lease and information on equipment used on drilling rigs for lease. The system allows leassees and leassors to request bids, formulate potential leassor distribution lists, and determine the best leasing conditions offered by the leassors. The system facilitates making an award to the potential leassor, which offers the best leasing conditions for the lease of a drilling rig most closely matching the formulated bid request.

Abstract: A system and method for maintaining a running list of a plurality of travel articles that are packed in one or more travel containers. A transponder having a unique locator tag is disposed on each travel article that is packed. A current packing distribution list is stored in memory and generated by a tracking controller, which utilizes (i) information relating to one or more packed travel articles and (ii) an identification of the travel container(s) in which the travel article(s) is/are packed. Moreover, the current packing distribution list is updated depending on whether the packed travel articles have been added to or removed from a particular travel container. If the current packing distribution list is determined to be optimizable, an optimized packing distribution list is generated and serves as the new current packing distribution list. The current packing distribution list is stored and displayed.

Abstract: An automated method for quickly generating a complete bill of materials and total cost information in real time. Components for a desired system are specified and/or replaced by substitute components, while continuously predicting the wireless system performance. A design engineer builds a model of the desired wireless communications system and specifies each component necessary to provide sufficient or optimal system performance. A parts list is maintained, in real time, that contains a definition of each system component and its associated performance and cost parameters. As the user changes wireless system designs through a series of “what-if” scenarios, components are replaced with substitute components, cable lengths are modified, antenna systems and base station parameters are re-designed and moved to alternate locations, etc. The bill of materials is automatically updated and component costs and total system costs are immediately available to the design engineer.

Abstract: The adaptive product conditioning is a computer-implemented method for identifying product configurations that can be provided to customers in reaction to supply imbalances. The methodology uses data mining techniques to collect and analyze business level meta data to coordinate supply and sales goals in terms of optimizing profits or managing product and technology transitions.

Abstract: An asset management system includes a controller area network bus and a data acquisition module connected to the controller area network bus. The data acquisition module has a plurality of analog input channels. One or more sensor systems are connected to the input channels with the input channels receiving analog signals from the sensor systems. The data acquisition module passively conditions the received analog signals prior to digital conversion.

Abstract: An integrated process management system particularly suited for an environment in which multiple vendors must interact to cooperatively deliver products. The invention uses a preferably centralized process controller running on a computer. Discrete items or steps in the product manufacturing and delivery processes are given unique identifiers. The unique identifiers may assume many forms. For physical components, such as containers of raw materials, the identifier can be a tamper-resistant label containing a unique alphanumeric sequence. The identifiers are used to track the performance of each defined step in the process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for realising on-line electronic purchase transaction between a buyer and a merchant, the buyer having a buyer communication means, the merchant having a merchant system, a communication network being provided for allowing data exchange between the buyer communication means and the merchant system, the merchant system comprising a purchase offer site, and the merchant system being configured to allow for selecting at least one item of purchase via the purchase offer site; the method comprising the steps of: providing a buyer web-pay module at the buyer communication means; providing a merchant web-pay module at the merchant system; storing static merchant data by the merchant web-pay module and/or by the merchant system, the static merchant data including merchant identification data for a financial service provider; initiating a communication between the buyer web-pay module and the merchant web-pay module; providing dynamic transaction data and optionally also static mer

Abstract: A purchasing entity directs the sourcing of one or more components of a part in a microprocessor-based method. The microprocessor-based method comprises generating a listing for a part that identifies the one or more components. Such a listing is stored in digital electronic form and is accessible by a microcomputer-based system. The purchasing entity then enters into a purchase agreement with a secondary supplier for at least one component of the one or more components. The purchasing entity then obtains a quotation from a primary supplier for the part with the secondary supplier specified as a supplier for at least one component. A computer system for directed sourcing that includes a computer network including one or more computers and which executes the method of the invention is also provided.

Abstract: A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to an individual material bill of material and/or an order tracking view business object.

Abstract: Generally speaking, systems, methods and media for managing shared inventory in a virtual universe are disclosed. Embodiments of the method may include receiving notification of a user session being established between a user and a virtual universe simulator. The method may also include accessing a list of shared inventory items for the user where the list of shared inventory items includes one or more shared inventory items each having an inventory source associated with it. Embodiments may also include retrieving at least one shared inventory item from its associated inventory source and passing the retrieved shared inventory item to the virtual universe simulator. Further embodiments may include retrieving an updated listing for the shared inventory items from their associated inventory sources and passing the updated shared inventory item list to the virtual universe simulator. Further embodiments may include passing metadata for shared inventory items to the virtual universe simulator.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for receiving a product parts list containing parts for creating a product variant of a product and updating a bill of material with the parts and a selection condition to identify a part of the product variant. The method includes determining a characteristic and a characteristic value of the parts of the product variant and generating a variant demand object for the product variant.

Abstract: Enhanced brand label validation, in which identification information uniquely identifying items that have moved through one or more nodes of a supply chain is received, and event data associated with the uniquely identified items is received from the one or more nodes, based on the received identification information. The process also includes performing a validation of a characteristic of the uniquely identified items based on applying the received event data to multiple discrete evaluation frameworks, and providing a result of the validation for each of the multiple discrete evaluation frameworks.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the number of clients that can access a server in a server-client network are described. A communications filter driver resides on the server and monitors network communications to determine a unique network address of each client that attempts to access the server. When a client attempts to access the server, the server allows the client to access the server if the network address of the client is listed in a table. If the network address of the client is not listed in the table, the server determines if a client limit has been met or exceeded. If the limit has been reached, the server determines if the client is a client that has previously accessed the server under a different network address. This is accomplished by sending a signal to each network address listed in the table and requesting a response.

Abstract: A work information transmitting apparatus of a primary business enterprise provides second work information to a second server of a secondary business enterprise according to first work information received from a first server of a main business enterprise. The first work information includes production plan information generated based on inventory information regarding materials of the primary business enterprise and/or secondary business enterprise, and information about first materials required by the main business enterprise. The first server transmits second work information including information about second materials among the first materials and delivery time limit information regarding the second materials to the second server, receives response information with respect to the second work information from the second server, and transmits the corresponding results to the first server. The second materials are materials that are to be requested from the secondary business enterprise.

Abstract: An air pollution control system comprises: a carry-in tank truck that carries in a feedstock, i.e., concentrated hydrochloric acid (35% hydrochloric acid); a hydrogen chloride vaporizer that vaporizes the concentrated hydrochloric acid to obtain hydrogen chloride; a liquid level regulator that separates residual hydrogen chloride from extracted dilute hydrochloric acid discharged as a by-product from the hydrogen chloride vaporizer, and that regulates the liquid level of the hydrogen chloride vaporizer; a concentration regulating tank that regulates the hydrochloric acid concentration of extracted dilute hydrochloric acid 25B from which the residual hydrogen chloride has been separated to a predetermined concentration (e.g., 22%); a by-product tank that stores therein dilute hydrochloric acid regulated to have a predetermined concentration; and a carry-out tank truck that carries out the dilute hydrochloric acid with a predetermined concentration discharged from the by-product tank.

Abstract: Redistributing parts includes defining locations. An actual inventory of parts is established among the locations, and a desired allocation of the parts is established among the locations. A demand for the parts at each location is determined using the actual inventory and the desired allocation. Paths are determined, where a path transfers an excess part from one location to another location. A transfer function describing a cost of transferring the excess part along the paths is generated. The transfer function is optimized to achieve the desired allocation of the excess parts at a minimum cost.

Abstract: A parts management method is performed by a parts management device for managing parts used to produce an assembly product. Firstly, parts identification information and number of parts corresponding to an assembly product of which production is started are read from a storage device, respectively, as used-parts identification information and a used number. Secondly, parts container information of a parts container that accommodates parts used for an assembly product of which production is started is read from a storage device that stores parts container information, for each parts container. Then, parts container information that includes an updated number of parts is written into a storage device. The updated number of parts is obtained by subtracting the number of used parts from number of parts identified by the used-parts identification information read in the firstly reading.

Abstract: A method of storing and managing BOMs of different owners in the same environment. One or more BOMs have an owner. An owner's BOM includes may include confidential information such that unrestricted access to the confidential information is limited to the owner and any designates of the owner. In particular, one embodiment of the invention and maintains a list of items that include the items in the BOMs of the different owners. A unique identifier is used for each item of the list. The item identifiers thus form one namespace. BOMs of different owners share data including confidential data within the same namespace.